One thing that a lot of businesses tend to overlook when requesting service quotes is their own “PLANNING”. Which is truly a shame as this is easily one of the most important parts when hiring a photographer for any sort of service. When the investment is large and the value of it is high, why leave it all up to chance?!

To help, we’ve put together a list of questions to ask yourself when preparing to contract a photographer for product photography services. Even if you are fishing for quotes… Most of these questions can also be applied to other genres of photography as well.

1) Basic Information you should provide:

2) Websites where the images will be posted?

3) How will the images be used?

Print Catalog/Other Print Material

Digital Catalog/Online Store

Social Media

Main Website/On Another Company’s Website

Mailing List

Press Release

All of the Above

Other

Include any other information about how the images will be used. You should also send all the links to where you plan to use the images. This can help the photographer learn more about your business, branding, colors, company feel, etc. The more we know the better your results will be! If your site is in the development stage, this is even more important, screenshots or a private link will be very beneficial.

4) What type of Product Photography do you need?

Plain White Backdrop

Product with Set Design (In-Studio)

Product with Set Design (Outdoors)

With People

Without People

360° + Zoom

Other

Any of these options will drastically change the cost of the project. Example: Plain white backdrop can be anywhere from $100-$30 per image and 360° + Zoom could be double or triple the cost.

5) Image Orientation/Crop Ratio/Angles

Some e-commerce websites have strict rules and requirements to follow for product listings such as, LCBO, GS1, Amazon, Shopify, Ebay and there are many others. Make sure you know where your products will be listed and send your requirement information to the photographer.

6) Desired Project Start Date/Deadline?

I cannot stress how important it is to specify your project date and deadline. Photographers work on many projects at a time, your deadline needs to be very clear! No one wants this kind of surprise.

7) Budget Range?

$0-$1,000

$1,000-$5,000

$5,000-$25,000

Other

It is best to be honest upfront about your budget. Not all creatives are looking to milk your budget dry. Knowing a budget can help us figure out what we can do to work within the budget or we can then help you understand what the budget should be in order to achieve your goals. The knowledge of your budget can also help with providing a more advanced proposal outlining how we can maximize your dollar and marketing efforts. We send out 2-3 proposals so you can decide how much of your budget you’d like to spend.

8) Featured Products?

List the products that will be included in the shoot. This will help determine how many shots will be delivered.

9) What is your Inspiration for the concept?

This section is for those clients looking to go beyond the standard e-commerce product photos. It’s a crucial part of executing the right advertising images for your product. If this is something you need help with, most photographers are also considered “Creative Directors” and can help you develop concepts. Of course hiring a professional who only works on planning and building concepts can be beneficial if you have a large budget.

Please include a creative brief, list websites, Pinterest boards, colors, look & feel, props and anything else that inspired your style or look you want to achieve. Mood boards, PDFs, including descriptions and images is a great way to show the photographer you are well prepared. There is nothing better than working with a client who has spent the time planning.

10) Send reference images of your product!

This will also help the photographer know what they are working with especially if your product is unique, reflective or what would be considered an “over-sized” product.

Conclusion

These are all very important questions to ask yourself before approaching a photographer and if you are looking to receive an accurate quote, in a timely manner with minimal back and forth emails and calls. Not only can we respond quickly and accurately but, we can make sure we achieve the goals you need, to have the most versatile product images possible. With correct planning, you will definitely receive the results you are looking for, you will know all the places the images can be used in advance and save a lot of time and money in the process.

Brandon Marsh

Brandon Marsh is an award-winning advertising photographer based in Southwestern Ontario. His photography is primarily focused on portrait, headshot, product and still life.

In constant pursuit of the latest knowledge, trends and opportunities, Brandon takes pride in staying at the forefront of his industry. Brandon guides his customers in developing the right plan for their individual needs. Through his experience, he has created a talented network of professionals perfect for any project.

Brandon will continue to strive in his photography business while following opportunities across the globe. No idea is too big or too small. Let’s start a conversation today.